I was waiting at a red light on Franklin Street last Friday night when I looked into the SUV on my left and noticed Al Franken was in the driver's seat. It would probably never be considered a rare or exciting celebrity sighting, especially since he's actually living in the Twin Cities again while he runs for senate, but it was a celebrity sighting nonetheless and they don't come around too often in Minnesota. So like a wannabe paparazzo, I readied my digital camera and started waving violently to get his reaction.

But it was dark, and he and his wife were steadfast in their attention to the road. The light turned green and he took off, but my Hyundai and I stayed even with them until the next red light, where I took a few quick snapshots using the red-eye-reduction flash, thinking this might get their attention. But again, they were unfazed, and again the light turned green without even a hint of acknowledgement.

Turns out I should have been paying more attention to the road in front of me because I didn't really see the cars parked on the side of the road and I had to make a last minute decision to hit the gas and swerve ahead of Franken's SUV in order to avoid ramming into anything, which elicited a nasty honk, I'm assuming from Franken himself. Guess I finally got his attention.

So it turns out the paparazzo life is not for me. Which is okay, because in Minneapolis there aren't many targets. You'd only really have to split your time between Prince and Al Franken. Maybe Jesse Ventura, Dean Johnson from HomeTime, or Joan Steffand from Decorating Cents, or this lady (not suitable for work), if you're lucky. But with "celebrities" like that, you'd have to catch them doing something particularly nasty before anyone would really care. I mean, it's not like when barefoot Brittney buys a taco.

And I'm obviously not the best photographer. This is the best picture I could get:

Tsk, tsk. You were driving while trying to snap a picture?! And you nearly caused an accident for that photo?! I think even the paparazzi must have someone else drive while they snap the photos. Very irresponsible.

Kudos on the picture Dan! Sure, perhaps there isn't a one of us that could correctly identify Mr. Franken were you to ask us, but at least you got it and still managed to avoid hitting other vehicles. And you got to share another cool story with us!!!

I saw Senator Norm Coleman a few times on Grand Ave. in St. Paul, once I said 'Hey Norm' when I ran into him at a Bruegger's but I think I was even less impressed than he was. I was a Wellstone supporter and will be a Franken supporter as well!

Garrison Keillor lives and owns a bookstore in the neighborhood in which I work. From time to time I see him walking on the street from my window. It was quite impressive the first time, but now it has become tiresome. Too bad Al Franken doesn't come around here; that would be much more interesting.

dan..i love you but oh so lame! sheesh....was al really riding in a lung choking SUV? to what...save himself from fans? really...wouldn't it be better he were driving an energy efficient vehicle or the train...which I presume you have there???? or a bus? I suppose a bus is too low class now that Al is in the big leagues. oh...the beginning of the end. so sad.